Joint



June 24 19241- 1,499298 H. -A. ELLER yJOINT Filed Nog. s, 1.922, /6

His affoxncq Patented .lune 245 1924.

vUNITED sTA'ir-Es PATENT oFFrcI-z..l

. r. i v HENRY A. ELLER, OF CELORON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR'TO AUTO SPRING CONTRI: COMPANY, ING., OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, A CORPO'BATION OF NEW YORK.

JOINT.

Application 'filed November 3, 1922. Serial No. 598,931.

To all w/tom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. ELLER, a citizen' of the United States, residing at Celoron, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in J oints, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification. 1

This invention relates to an improvement in, a joint and more particularly in a joint of the ball and socket type in which the inner member has a spherical surfacewhich is enclosed by a spherical chamber in the outer member; I

The object of this-invention is to provide a joint of the above type in which the engagement contact between the members can be adjusted to eliminate lost motion, in whichthe contacting members are held in engagement by a spring and which is so formed that no-moisture can enter between the contacting surfaces.

Other'objects will appear from the consideration of the following description takeng1 in connection with the drawings which form a part thereof and in .which v.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross section ofa joint embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the outer member. Fig. 3 is a front eleyation of a removable race. i

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a spring plate; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the coverplate.

numeral 10 is used to designats the outerl joint member and the reference numeral *11,

the inner joint member. The. member 11 has a spherical head 12 carried on a shank these surfaces is formed an annular surfacev 16, the diameter of which is intermediate 6 that of the 'surfaces 15 and 17. 'Withinthe is arranged a removable race or ring 18 the inner surface 19v of which has the same' curvature as the surface 15. The curva- Referring to the drawings the reference.

socket 14 and resting upon the surface 16t ture of the surfaces 15 and 19 is the same as that of the spherical surface of the head 12, so Vthat When the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, the head will'be between the surfaces 15 and 19 and can move freely thereover. The ring 18 is held against rotation relative to the vmember 10 by means of a pin 20, which engages a notch 21 inlthe ring 18 and a notch 22 in the surface 16 of the member 10.

The cover plate 23 is externallyl threaded to:l engage with the threaded surface 17 of the socket 14 and has an overhangingaannular flange 2/1 which,'when the partsare propi erly assembled, bears against the outer face of member 10 in orderl to close and seal that end of the socket. 'Spaced pockets 25 are provided on the outer face ofl the cover for the projecting pins of a spanner (not shown) by which the cover is turned.

Carried by a pin 27 projectng from the inner face of the cover 23 is a spring plate 26 which has a center aperture 28 through Which the 'pin 27 passes to hold the spring plate in position. The plate 26 is cupped so that its perimeter 29 bears against the* outer face lof the ring 18 thus holding it v at all times'in cont-act with the head 12.

By reason of the close contact between the portion 15 of the member 10 and the spherical face of thevhead 12 no dirt can enter. IAn oiling passage 30 is provided in 06 the member 10 terminating in the surface /1 16. In the present embodiment this oiling passage 30 is shown provided With 'an alemite lubrication. The lubricant forced through the passage 30 enters the space 32 between the portion 15 and the ring 18 and falls directly upon the spherical surface of the head 12 from which it works between the head 12 and'the surfaces 15 and 19. This -spreading of lubricant from the center of 05 lubricant Will not only be forced into the space 32 but through the groove 33 so that the head 12 Will be completely packed with lubricant,

Upon tightening of the cover 23 the spring plate 26 forces the 'ring 18 against the head 12 and causes the latter to seat firmly upon the surface 15. Consequently any lost motion' inthe joint will be taken up and Having thus set forth my invention, what i I' claim as new and'for Which I desire the protection of Letters Patent:

A ball and socket joint comprising a member having a spherically Shaped head, and a second member having a socket 'therein, open at both ends, an annular curved surfaceJ in said socket against which said head seats,

a movable race, in said socket having a' curved face hearing upon said head, a cover for one end of said socket, a pin carried by the inner face of the cover, and a cupped spring on said pin hearing at its perimeter upon said race to hold it against said head. In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

HENRY A. ELLER. 

